Trousers-stretcher



A. H. DOYLE.

- TROUSERS STRETCHER APPLICATION FILED AUG-11. 1920.

1,396,735. I Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TR/OUSERS-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application filed August '17, 1920. Serial No. 404,091.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ASHTON H. DOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Johnson City, in the county of .Vashington and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trousers- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trousers stretchers, the principal object of the invention being to provide means for gripping the trousers at the creases and for stretching them transversely so as to remove wrinkles and to preserve the creases at the front and .rear of the legs of the trousers.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide means whereby the parts may be folded together so that the device will occupy but littlespace when not in use.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several 7 parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illusspecifically pointed out in the appended trated in the accompanying drawings and claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the device showlng the same in full lines when in use and in dotted lines when in folded condition.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the device.

Fig. 3. is a sectional detail view showing one of the gripping springs swung outwardly.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a modification.

I Fig. 5. is a cross sectional view through this modification.

In these'views 1 and 2 indicate two pairs of clamping plates, the plates of each pair bein hinged together at their outer edges by the hinges 3. These plates are adapted to receive the creased edges of the trousers between them, one pair of plates engaging the rear part of the trousers while the other pair engages the front part. Holes 4 are made in the plates adjacent their hinged edges to receive the U-shaped springs 5. The cross pieces of these springs pass through the holes 4 and these cross pieces are madeof sufiicient length to permit the plates of each pair to be moved apart a suflicient distance to insert the edges of the trousers, when the springs are swung outwardly as shown in Fig. 3. After the trousers are placed in position the'springs are swung inwardly over theplates so that their convergent endswill hold the two plates together with the trousers gripped between them. y

The two pairs of plates are connected together by the two pairs of links 6 and 7, the links being pivotally connected with the upper plate of each pair and having their inner ends overlapping and pivoted together and to the connecting bar 8, as shown at 9. The links 7 are of greater length than the links 6 so that said links 7 will hold the two pairs of plates a greater distance apart than the links 6, thus the plates when in use will be held at an incline as shown in Fig. 1. This position of the plates will conform to the tapered shape of the trousers legs. The links 7 are provided with slots 10 to receive the pivot which in this case is a screw bolt which passes through said slots and the hole in the bar 8 and receives a wing nut 11 whereby the parts may be clamped in adjusted position. One of the links 7 is provided with a nib 12 which engages the recess 13 in the other link so as to limit the outward movement of the links. It will thus be seen that after the creased edges of the trousers are placed between the clamping plates and clamped therebetween the legs of the trousers can be stretched transversely by swinging the links into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to force the two pairs of clamping plates away from each other. After the plates are moved a suflicient distance apart to stretch the trousers they can be held in this position by tightening the wing nut to clamp the links against movement. When not in use the wing nut is loosened and the parts folded together into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig; 1 so that it can be placed in a suitcase or a place of storage without occupying but very little space.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the plates are pressed apart by means of the pivoted levers 15 which are pivoted to the ears formed on the plates 16 which are fastened to the clamping plates 1'. These levers are provided with projections 17 which engage the outer edges of the clamping plates and bear against the same when the levers '15 are being pressed toward each other, thus causing the clamping plates to open against the action of the springs 5. When the device is not in use the levers 15 can be swung over upon the clamping plates. The springs 5 have their ends connected with the clamping plates by the staples l8 and said springs may be'forced' inwardly when the device is not in use. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that before described.

As before stated by my invention trousers are kept creased by having their edges placed between the clamping plates and at the same time the trousers are kept in proper shape by being stretched transversely.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes "fall within the scope of the appended claim.

' What I claim is A device of the class described comprising two pairs of clamping plates, means for hinging together the plates of each pair at their outer edges, said plates having holes formed therein adjacent their outer edges, U-shaped springs having'their cross pieces engaging said holes, links pivotally connected to said plates, one pair of links being slotted, an operating bar to which the inner ends of the links are pivoted, the pivot pin for the slotted links passing through the slots therein and means for holding the parts in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ASHTON H. DOYLE. 

